Inflatable leak stopper



All@ 3 1948- c. A. ODING 2,446,190

I NFLATABLE LEAK sToPPER Filed oct. 29, 1945 2 Sheets-sheet 1 FUELS'.

Aug. 3, 1948. c. A. oDlNG INFLATABLE LEAK STOPPER vI3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 0013. 29, 1945 -@.mmh

INVENTOR. CARL A come Patented Aug. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE f y `11-111.A'1A15LE LEAK strorrmt carl A. oaing, Anmeaa Calif. Application October 29, 1945, Serial No. 625,215

` 8 Claims.`

This invention relates to the emergency repairing of shell or bulkhead perforations in Waterborne ships.

It is an object of the invention to provide an effective stopper for plugging a hole, through which Water has iiowed to ood a compartment, so that the ood Water may be cleared out of the compartment and further emergency and seaworthy repairs to close the hole may be undertaken.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mat-type of hole stopper which may be accurately placed over the perforation itis desired to close without the assistance, outboard of the ship, of a diver or draw lines passed under the ships hull.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a mat-type of hole stopper, means for varying the degree of buoyancy thereof so that the descent or ascent thereof through a body of Water may be regulated as desired.`

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mat-type hole stopper which, after being positioned over a perforation to stop `or reduce water flow therethrough, will permit suicient displacement thereof so as to allow subsequent work to be carried on, in trimming the margin of the perforation `or in the placement of more' permanent repairmembers,` Without permitting an objectionable increase in the varrestediiovv of water through the perforation.

A still further object of the invention i-s to provide an inflatable mat-type hole stopper which, priorto and after use, may be compressed into a comparatively small volume capable of being stored without occupying an `objectionable, amount of space. y

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hole stopper of the character described It is a further object of the invention to pro-` which may be used repeatedly without suffering any appreciable ill eifects.

vide a method of repairing hull or Vbulkhead punctures in Water-borne vessels which is far less hazardous and more economical to practice than are the usual methods presently employed. It is still another object of` the invention to provide means,` in a device ofthe character described, for varying the buoyancy of a distended envelope Without materially affecting the volumetric content of the envelope.

The invention possess `other objects and features of a advantage which, together with the foregoing, will |be specifically set forth in the detailed description of the invention hereunto annexed. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specic form, thereof herein shown and described as various other `embodiments thereof may be employed within the scope of theappended claims.`

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a Water-borne vesselillustrating the application ofthe device of my invention in closing' a shell puncture in the vessel.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionalview oi the vessels hull, at and immediately adjacent to the puncture, illustrating the position of the stopper just prior to its release from the patched area,r

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the'completed hull patch.

Figure 4 isa vertical sectional view, similar` to Figure 2 but to an enlarged scale, illustrating the primary position of the stopper in closingtlieV puncture.

Figure 5 is a` view, similar to Figure 4,. showing the condition of the stopper after the flooded compartment has been evacuated.

Figure 6 is a View, similar to Figure 4, showing the -stopper prior to its release and the more per# manent patch in place.

Numerous methods have been devised for effecting temporary repairs in t'he under-water hull surfaces of water-borne ships which have become` punctured 'due to coming in contact with sub-` surface objects or as a result of collision. The' most common device employed to stopthe perforation and limit the entry of seawater into` the compartment beyond is a closely'woven mat, composed of fibrous material such as hemp or the like, of sufficient size to cover and extend beyond the border of the hole. This mat is worked into place on the outer surface of the hull by opposed lines connected to the opposite horizontal edges of the mat and passed, respectively,` up along the side of the hull above the hole and under` the bottom of the hull and up alongthe opposite side thereof. After being properly lo-y cated, under the direction of a diver sent overside, the lines are tightened so as to draw the mat snugly to the hull and the flooded compartment is then pumped so as to reduce its water content, to a minimum and thus lessen the impediment which the Waterlogged compartment might otherwise impose on the vessels headway. Even though this type of repair Will render satisfactory protection `against complete re-flooding of the compartment, if the bilge pumps are kept in constant operation to continuously remove any water that might seep bythe repair patch,

the subsequent speed of the vessel must be mate` rially reduced so that the water flow along the hull will not dangerously raise the mat away from the hole and allow sea water to pour into the compartment.

I have provided an improved device and procedure for closing punctures of the nature above described by means of which a more permanent class of repair may be effected than has heretofore been the case and the necessity of drydocking the vessel mayk be deferred until it reaches its home port or one in which the most desirable facilities for making a permanent repair are available. trated a vessel 'I in the hull of which a hole 8 has been punctured below the w-aterline 9 resulting in flooding the compartment II. I provide a flexible envelope I2 constructed of several plies of rubberized fabric bonded together to form a comparatively thick tough skin capable'oi .conforming itself to the contour of the hole 8, when forced thereinto, and further capable of resisting damaging abrasion by coming into contact with jagged portionsof the plate bordering the hole. The envelope l2 is bonded to a central area of a disk I3, constructed of material similar to 4that of the envelope although somewhat thickenthe marginal portion of the disk bein-g left free to form a peripheral flap I4. The stoppers, of course, are to be` made in several different sizes and a selection is. made of one which, from the report of the diver lowered into the ooded compartment, will be sufficiently large to completely cover Y@e hole and extend materially beyond the border thereof.

Means are provided for rendering the envelope and its. associated membersrbuoyant. when in the Water and for varying the degree of said `buoyancy so that a balance may be reached wherein the envelope may be made to sink atA a very gradual andeasily controlled rate. Provided at what maybe termed the top of the envelope, and described more particularly asa plane intersecting the normal axis of the disk I3, is a bushing I6 secured to the envelope and through which passes, into the latter a flexible air, hose Il loosely looped therein and provided at its free end with a corkmorother buoyant float I8 so as to. constantly maintain `the endof the hose above the level of any amountl of fluid that may be introduced into the envelope. A `similar bushing i9 secured to the envelope adjacent the bushing i` provides entrance into theY envelope of a flexible uid line .2.I. The air and iiuid lines l1 and 2l maybe connected in one of several knownways to sources. of air and fluid under pressure but I have chosen the apparatus shown in Figure lv for purposes of description. This arrangement comprises a tank 22 which may be an auxiliary structure4 or one which is incorporated in the vessels structure such as the boiler feed water tank which will hold a quantity of water exceeding the volumetric content of the envelope l2 when the latter is fully expanded. Extending from the. bottom of the tank 22 is a supply pipe 23` connectedto aT 24having a nipple 26., co-extensive with the pipe23, to which the upper end of the fluid line 2l is` attached. A valve 21 inV thepipe 23, betweenthe T 26 and the tank 22, controls the flow of fluid from the. tank into the line '2L The topy outlet of the T 24 is connected to a supply line 2.8y controlled by a valve 29 while the opposite orrbottom outlet is connected to a discharge', line 3| controlled by a suitable valvev In Figure 1, I have illus-M' 4 line 34 which is controlled by a valve 36. The bottom outlet of the T 33 connects with a discharge line 31 normally closed by a valve 38. Prior to being cast overside the envelope l2 is fully distended by opening the valve 36 to permit a volume of air to enter the envelope through the line I'I. Thus maximum buoyancy of the envelope is eiected. .This buoyancy may be now ymodified as desired by admitting water to the envelope and simultaneously exhausting a comparative amount of air therefrom so as to cause submersion of the envelope. This may be done in either of two ways, namely, by opening the valveA 21, soas to permit water from the tank 22 to flow by gravity and under the pressure represented bythe head of the water above the envelope into the latter while simultaneously forcing air from the inflated envelope through the air line and opened valve 38, or by opening the valve 29 with the same result, the valve 2'! in this case being, of course, closed. `'lhus the degree of buoyancy in the envelope may be very nely adjusted to the point wherein the former will remain substantially suspended or will very slowly sink` sot-hat itcan be manuevered readily into the desired position to cover the puncture in the hull. It Will be. particularly noted from the foregoing description. that during the changes in buoyancy of the envelope due to theinterchange of air and water therein, the volumetric content of the lenvelope will be little affected.

Means is provided for accurately guiding the stop-per, after it has been suitably distended, into its nal position o ver the puncture. Positioned centrally of the disk i3 is an externally and internally threaded nipple 39 having a angeflll thereon apertured to receiverivets 42, or their equivalent, which pass axially through the disk andare engaged with a plate 43. lying within the envelope and concentric with the ange 4I. An access opening 44, provided in the wall of the envelope opposite the plate 43 and closed by a ilexible plate 46 mounted in place by bolts. 4l equipped with wingnuts 48, serves to permit the operations necessary in mounting the nipple attached at its end to a buoyant member, out.-

board through the puncture 8 so that theline may rise to the surface, of the water yabove the puncture. The float member is then detached from the. line-and the screw plug 5I, with which the end of the line is equipped, is threaded into the nipple 39. as is best shown in Figure 4. By drawing on the line, the diver may then move the buoyancy-balanced stopper into the position 4indicated.- by the dot-dash lines of Figurel wherein the puncture .t isplugged thereby.. In the cases of the larger Stoppers .it may be necessary to` use winch power to pull them into place but this may be easily done by anchoring a tackle block to a suitable structural element of the vessel, lsuch as a bulkhead stiiener or frame, running the line through `this block and continuing with the line out of the compartment through the opening or entrance manhole thereof to a point wherein it may be reached by suitable pulling means. When the stopper is inits nal position, it must be held there temporarily forthe reason that equalized pressure of the Water exists on the sea and compartxnent sidesy thereof.: This holding mayybe accomplished byv lashingV the linev 49 to s asportion of the shipsstructure oppositewthe puncture. This done,;the floodedcompartment `Il may be then evacuated of water or the latter may be so reduced as to safely permit repair` operations to be carried on therein. As the volumeof flood water is reduced in the compartment it will be seen that a hydrostatic unbalance willbe `created wherein the pressure, exteriorly of the ship, on the stopper will tend to force the latter tightly against the hull and around the margin lof the puncture. .This will eifectively seal the puncture and,` except where long tears or cracks radiate from the main perforation,'willJcompletely stop the ingress of `water into the ship. When oncevpositioned, `the stopper maybe completely evacuated of air and sufficient water underpressure maybe pumped thereinto to offset any tendency of the outboard pressure to extrude the stopper inboard through the perforation.v

After the stopper has been finally placed, as described above, -continued repair operations may proceed. Since the compartment H has now beenlcompletely or substantially cleared of water, the 'repair crew may descend thereinto to survey the damage and make the necessary preparations to completev the repair job. The first consideration is how large `a section ofv plate will befrequired to completely cover theishell perforation and slightly overlap the undistorted portions of the shell bordering the perforation. Having de` termined this and the source of the repair plate 52, whichmay be taken `from a superstructure bulkheadpr other portion of the vessel which will^not endanger its structural strengthi'the latter Vis secured, sized and provided at its center with an aperture 53 into -which is welded a threaded pipe nipple 54. After the line 49 has been detached, following `final placement of the stopper and evacuation of the chamber,` a centrally" apertured pusher plate E, sized to' pass through the unaltered' `hull perforation 8, is mounted on the nipple 39 by means of a` nut 51 engaged with the external threads of the nipple. Thel'arrangement of theparts is such that the pusher plate lies' as close as possible to the face of the disk #33. lA length ofpipe 58 is now secured, of suitable size to pass over thenut 51 and to passfreely through the repair plate nipple 54, and is positioned as shown in Figure 5 abutting the pusher plate. The repair plate 52 is next slipped onto the pipe with the nipple 54 pointing inboard of the ship. A suitable hydraulic or screw jack is `then interposed between the remote inboard end of the pipe58 and any convenient `fixed structural member of thefship spaced from and traversing the end of the pipe and pressure is applied axially of the' pipe-to cause the pusher plate 56 to move the central portion of the disk I3 outboard until only the peripheral flap portion I4 thereof remains in contact with the shell plate. Secure leakproof engagement of the disk in the aforesaid peripheral area will be insured by the external water pressure existing on the envelope. Pushing the envelope outwardly creates clearance on the outboard side of the curled or jagged border of the perforations sufficient to permit admittance of the tip and head of an Oxy-acetylene cutting torch which is used to trim the perforation back to the point where comparatively fiat shell plating exists. In this procedure, the flame and the slag stream of the torch will of course be directed inboard so as to not damage the disk i3. As

soonasthe trimming operation has been completed,` the repair plate 52 isslid alongy the pipe` 58 to cover the perforation and is then secured` in place by means of aperipheral weld 59 as shown, for example, in Figure 6. Upon -completing the weld 59, the axial pressure on the pipe 58 i exerted bythe jack'is relievedwhich permits the pipe to be `dismounted `and. the central portion of thedisk I3 to return toward the shell plating. A pipe cap 6I is thenathreadedly engaged with the nipple 54 andthe repair is completed, `with the `exception of removing the stopper, which may be accomplished by opening the water discharge valve 32 and by also opening the air valve` 36 so `as to exhaust, by the `air pressure, the water in the `envelope I2 `to effect aibuoyancy of the lattersuficient to raiseit and its attached pusher plate, lto the surface of the water from where.

it` maybe retrieved and stored for future use. In the event' that the:,clisk |3-should cling so tenaciouslyto the shell; plating so as to create a` vacuum pocket therebetween, which. might prevent the envelope from rising to the surface evenafteritywas fully inflated with air,I a pipe {i2-is connectedito thecap 6I and connected to a suitable sourceof liquid oryair under pres` sure, `apvalve 63being interposedin the line so that fluid underproper pressure may be introducedwhen desired into thelspace covered by thedisk I3;` This will equalize the hydrostatic pressure. on both sides of the envelopefl2.. and will effect ready separation of the envelope from the hulll so that it maybe floated to the surface. Although I have chosen-to describethe appa4 ratus and method offmyinvention as applied to aship itwill be evident 'to` those skilled in the art that `the `procedure may be employed any-1 where between separate chambers wherein diff` ferences of pressuremay existor may be establishedand that `the scope of the invention isto be` limited onlyby the wording of` the following claims.` i

Iclaimz- .v 1

i 1. Means forarresting relative communication between a first bodyof fluid, `lying on one side of a bulkheadahavinguanopening therein,` anda second bodyzofiiuid lying `on the opposite side offsaidtbulkhead,4 comprising a distendible en-r velope sufficientlyr large to cover said opening and capableof being submergedin said first body of fluid to a position in `,registry with said opening, means .to` pneumatically inflate said envelope to render itzbuoyantv,` means to displace a quantity of` air in said'envelopewith a heavier iluid to modify the buoyancyof the envelope and thereby regulate the ratef'offdescentthereof in saidrst body of fluidiand meansextended throughsaid opening Vfrom the,` secondi to the first bodies4 of fluid and connected-with said envelope to draw the latter into position over 'said opening.

2. In apparatus for arresting relative communication between a first body of fluid, lying on one side of a bulkhead having an opening therein, and a second body of fluid lying on the opposite side of said bulkhead, means suiciently large to cover said opening and adapted to be introduced into one of said bodies of fluid comprising a flexible disk to cover said opening, a distendible envelope secured to said disk, means to introduce air under pressure into said envelope to render the latter buoyant, means to admit liquid into said envelope, and means to position said disk and envelope in substantial registry with said bulkhead opening.

3. In apparatus for arresting relative communication between a rst body of liquid' lying on oneside of a'bulkhead member having an opening therein, and' a second body of liquid lying on the opposite side of said bulkhead member, means within said rst body of fluid comprisinga exible disk for coveringsaid bulkhead opening, a distendible envelopeA mounted concentrically with and' on thev side of said disk away from said opening,`separate 'air and liquid' lines entering said envelope, means `to supply compressed air to said air line to inflate and render said envelope buoyant, and means to admit liquid to said envelope through the `lieuiid line to displace a portion of said air therein and to' exhaust said displaced air through the air line so as to modify the degree of buoyancy of the envelope;

4. Apparatus for arresting relative communication between a first body of liquid, lying on one side of `a bulkhead member having an opening therein, and a .second body of liquid lying on the opposite side of said bulkhead member, means within said rst body of uid comprising a flexible impermeable disk for covering said bulkhead opening, a distendible envelope mounted concentrica-lly with and on the side of said disk away from said opening, a source of compressed air and a source of liquid under pressure, air and liquid lines connecting, respectively, the envelope with said air and liquid sources, and separate means in said air and liquid lines to, respectively, admit and exhaust air and liquid to and from said envelope. f

5. Apparatus for arresting relative communication between a rst bodyof liquid, 'lying on one side of a bulkhead member having an openingI therein, and a second body of liquid lying on the opposite side of said bulkhead member, means within said rst body of iiuid'comprising a flexible impermeable disk for covering said vbulkhead opening, a connector mounted on said disk' on the side thereof facing said bulkhead, a distendible envelope mounted concentrically with and on the side of said disk away from said opening, means to admit regulated quantities of air and liquid to said envelope to distend the latter and to vary the degree of buoyancy thereof, and means extendible through saidr bulkhead opening and engageable with said connector for drawing said disk against said bulkhead;

6. Apparatus for arresting relative communication between a rst body of liquid, lying on one side of a bulkhead member having an opening therein, and a second body of liquid lying on `the opposite side of said bulkhead member, means within said rst body offluidcomprising a flexible impermeable disk for covering said `bulkhead opening, a connector mounted on saiddisk on the side thereof'facing said bulkhead, a distendible -envelope mounted concentrically with and on the side of said disk away from said opening, means the degree of buoyancy thereof, and a cord extendible through said bulkhead opening and having at an end thereof a member engageable with said connector for drawing said disk against the bulkhead. l

7. Apparatus for arresting relative communication between a first body of liquid, lying -on one side-'of1 a bulkhead'rnember having an opening therein, and a second body of liquid lying on the opposite side of said bulkhead member, comprising, -in combination, a` stopper, to be immersed in said first body of liquid, having a flexible impermeable disk for covering said bulkhead opening, a distendible envelope mounted concentrically with and on the side of said disk away from said opening, a source of compressed air and a source of liquid under pressure, air and liquid lines con'- necting, respectively, the envelope with said air and liquid sources, means to admit regulated amounts of air and liquid to said envelope to vary the degree of buoyancy thereof in the first body of liquid, means to draw said stopper against the bulkhead over said opening and means to remove sufficient of said second body of liquid to establish a` hydrostatic pressure differential on opposite sides of said bulkhead.

8. Apparatus for arresting relative communication between a rst body of liquid, lying on one sideof a bulkhead member having an opening therein, and a second body of liquid lying on the opposite side of said bulkhead member, comprising, in combination, a stopper, to be immersed in said first body of liquid, `having a flexible impermeable disk for covering said bulkhead opening, a connector mounted on said disk on the side thereof facing said bulkhead, a distendible envelopemounted concentrically with and on the side of said disk away from said opening, means to admit regulated quantities of air and liquid to said envelope to distend the latter and to vary the degree of buoyancy thereof, means extendible through said .bulkhead opening and engageable with said connector-for-drawing said disk against the bulkhead, and means to remove sucient of said second body of liquid to establish a hydrostatic pressure differential on'opposite sides of said bulkhead.

. CARL A. ODING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofV this patent:

UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number 

